From Married at First Sight to The Great British Bake Off, reality TV dominates prime time. Whether we’re watching ordinary folk catapulted into the media spotlight or celebs on impossible adventures, it’s keeping millions of us glued to our screens.
But what really happens off camera? And do they ever get fed up of the hosts asking them questions and being silly just as they're perfecting their showstoppers? We spoke to Natalie Sims Rees from The Great Pottery Throw Down 2025 and Janey Smith from My Mum, Your Dad season 1 to get the inside scoop.
Have your say
Whether it's a guilty pleasure or a window into learning a new skill, we'd love to know what you enjoy watching. Let us know in the poll below, and/or in the comments section at the bottom of this page!
Behind the scenes of Throw Down
Natalie Sims Rees, 42, from Derby, is a former professional dancer, who reached the final of C4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down series 8 this year. She lives with her wife Sarah and daughter Albie, six.
"I’ve always loved pottery, and I’m a big fan of The Great Pottery Throw Down, so in 2020 my brother suggested I apply. I didn’t make the cut, but I didn’t give up, and was finally accepted this year on my fourth attempt," says Natalie.
"After numerous phone and Zoom interviews followed by a day in London showing my skills, I vividly remember getting the call I wanted as I got into my car after work. I couldn’t drive for 10 minutes – I was so excited!
"Some people worked throughout filming, but I took two months of unpaid leave from my job as a swimming instructor. It took six days to make each episode.
"The ‘main makes’ take a day, then we’d head home for three days while our creations were dried and bisque-fired before returning for the week’s surprise challenge and judging. It’s amazing how the producers edit days of footage into a brilliant hour-long show.
"The only downside is having to wear the same outfit throughout filming each episode for continuity reasons!
"I’m lucky that I live 40 minutes from the shoot location at Gladstone Pottery in Stoke, as some people had to travel for nine hours! During filming, we stayed in a nearby hotel.
"My wife and I had to tell our daughter Albie that I had a ‘pottery job’ going on to explain my frequent absences, as we didn’t want her spilling the beans at school that I was on the show.
"It was quite a juggle but I made lifelong friendships with the other potters and we’re all still in touch."
"It all looks calm and serene on TV, but the reality involves eight cameras, 12 potters, around 12 people off-screen plus the two lovely judges and host Siobhán McSweeney, all crammed into one small room.
"You learn quickly how to not bash into a camera or get into the wrong shot. We didn’t get to hang out much with the judges, but their input was always so helpful.
"Having been used to working alone in my garage pottery studio at home, initially I found the chaos and noise on-set off-putting. But I soon became accustomed to cameras zooming in on my hands or the judges popping by for a chat.
"However, the noises and faces I made came as a shock at my mini launch party at home with friends and family!
"The wonderful Throw Down experience helped to get back a bit of the Natalie I was before I became a mum.
"I’d love to make pottery my full-time career. As a first step, I’ve cut back my hours at the swimming pool and have rented a proper studio.
"My mantra in life is ‘if you don’t try, you’ll never know’, and I’m so glad I gave it my all and may be able to build a future in pottery, thanks to the Throw Down."
Behind the scenes of My Mum, Your Dad
Janey Smith, 49, from West Sussex, appeared on the first series of ITV’s My Mum, Your Dad in 2023, where she met her partner, Roger Hawes. Her son William, 22, was on the show’s panel of adult children tasked with pairing up their single parents.
"It blows me away that Roger and I met on a reality TV show. We’re not glamorous 20-somethings, but I think featuring middle-aged single parents, with various personal issues, made the show unique. It’s wonderful getting kind messages from people on my Instagram when they realise Roger and I are still so happy together.
"I split up with William’s dad when he was only one and hadn’t lived with anyone since, but I was keen to try to find a new partner. William and I filled in the forms for the show together, as we thought it sounded like a great idea.
"Initially, William was quite cautious about Roger, as he’d seen me get hurt before, but he proved to be the perfect matchmaker, along with Roger’s daughter Jess.
"We thought that the kids were simply going to be involved with a bit of promoting the show and doing the odd podcast about it, so the fact that they had been watching us on cameras and making decisions about setting up dates came as a shock at the end.
"It was a bit embarrassing realising they’d shaped our developing relationship – but we laughed a lot (and cringed a few times!) when we were able to watch it back together."
"Having been asked to hold two weeks in May clear, we only found out we’d be appearing two days before filming started. I couldn’t believe it, and felt excited and nervous all at once. There was little chance to glam up or go shopping.
"I was glad I’d ordered a few date night outfits online, as everyone looked so chic when I arrived at the ‘retreat’ location in Midhurst, fortunately just 20 minutes from my home.
"I entered the show on Day Two as a surprise ‘bombshell’. I shared a big suite with fellow contestants Caroline and Tolullah. There were no cameras in the bedroom, but it had a beautiful bathroom where everything was filmed to catch the gossip.
"I showered in a different room without a camera but did have to use the loo in our en suite. There was a huge plant next to the loo so I tried to hide myself behind it, but I don’t think the producers wanted to see that anyway!
"It was tough having no privacy, but after a few days I found my rhythm.
"It felt a bit like a holiday – delicious food, fun activities and no cleaning! I never got used to the show’s presenter Davina McCall walking in, but she had a knack for putting us at ease.
"I did occasionally forget the cameras until I’d hear an automated one whizz round to catch a conversation!
"Roger and I felt a connection immediately, but there were also dates set up by the kids, and the producers would sometimes encourage us to talk to specific people. The prosecco was the only thing faked. We were just allowed one glass of alcohol a day, so many toasts involved non-alcoholic fizz.
"Roger now spends most of his time at mine but pops back regularly to see his family in Derbyshire. The hardest part was keeping our relationship under wraps, as the show didn’t air until four months after filming. It was such a relief finally sharing with friends who this handsome man was!"
This article first appeared in the October 2025 issue of woman&home magazine. Subscribe to the magazine for £6 for 6 issues.
